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Women's College World Series: Facemask just part of the uniform for Kentucky pitcher Kelsey Nunley

Now on the national stage at the Women’s College World Series, Nunley is the perfect example of the movement to protect pitchers in both softball and baseball. And she hopes she can jumpstart the movement.

Kentucky pitcher Kelsey Nunley poses for a photo while wearing her face mask during the Women's College World Series media day at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium on Wednesday, May 28, 2014 in Oklahoma City, Okla. Photo by Chris Landsberger, The Oklahoman

“I think right now we’re at a place of personal preference,” Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson said. “I would be not surprised if more and more kids starting to come through that have had it their whole life continue.”

Nunley has worn her mask since she started pitching at age 9. She broke her nose playing shortstop the year before, and her father bought her a mask when the decision was made to move to the circle.

She had already been wearing a protective mask during gym class in school, so adjusting to it was relatively easy. Now, she hardly notices the mask while playing, which is one of the chief concerns among coaches and players.

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by Jacob Unruh

Reporter

Jacob Unruh is a graduate of Northeastern State University. He was born in Cherokee and raised near Vera where he attended Caney Valley High School.During his tenure at NSU, Unruh wrote for The Northeastern (NSU's student newspaper), the...